Method for homogenizing and dosing tea leaves and corresponding apparatus

Abstract

This invention relates to the field of tea mixing equipment technology, and in particular to a method for uniformly mixing and feeding tea leaves and the corresponding equipment. The control system sends the corresponding target weight values ​​to each metering module according to a preset ratio. The feeding device delivers the corresponding type of tea leaves based on the target weight value for each type. When all metering modules have reached their respective target weight values, all metering modules simultaneously pour their tea leaves into the mixing module. The mixing module guides the various types of tea leaves to converge and diffuse along their falling path to complete the initial mixing. The tea leaves after the initial mixing are output from the discharge end of the mixing module to the discharge device. The discharge device rotates around its horizontal axis, causing the tea leaves to tumble and be conveyed horizontally to complete the secondary mixing and final output. The initial uniform mixing is achieved longitudinally through mutual interweaving and collision during the gravity flow process, while the horizontal mixing is further achieved through tumbling, ultimately resulting in a highly mixed finished product.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of tea mixing equipment technology, and in particular to a method for uniformly mixing and feeding tea leaves and the corresponding equipment. Background Technology

[0002] Tea blending involves combining various types of processed tea in specific proportions according to the quality standards of finished tea products, resulting in a finished tea of ​​a defined grade. Due to the wide distribution and vast area of ​​tea-producing regions in my country, the natural conditions, tea varieties, and fresh leaf harvesting habits vary greatly from place to place. Furthermore, tea producers in different regions have varying levels of mastery and application of tea-making techniques, leading to differences in the quality and style of the produced teas. To maintain relatively consistent quality and flavor in their finished teas while maximizing profits, tea factories and distributors often blend multiple varieties of raw tea in specific proportions.

[0003] Existing tea blending equipment typically includes several feeding devices and a mixer. Different types of tea are placed separately in each feeding device, which then feeds them into the mixer, where they are blended evenly. Currently, most systems use multiple conveyor belts to transport the various teas to a discharge belt. These conveyor belts are arranged sequentially along the discharge belt's conveying direction, causing the tea to pile up on the discharge belt. This results in poor uniformity of distribution of the teas on the discharge belt, leading to poor mixing quality and affecting the taste of the finished product. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In order to address the technical deficiencies mentioned in the background section, the present invention aims to provide a method for uniformly mixing and feeding tea leaves and a corresponding device.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0006] A method for uniformly mixing and feeding tea leaves, comprising:

[0007] Step S1: Based on the preset proportions of various teas, the control system determines the target weight values ​​of each type of tea required for a single mixing; the control system sets the target weight values ​​of each type of tea into multiple metering modules corresponding to different types of tea.

[0008] Step S2: The feeding device delivers the corresponding type of tea based on the target weight value of each type of tea and monitors the weight in real time. When any of the metering modules reaches its corresponding target weight value, the feeding of tea to the metering module is stopped.

[0009] Step S3: When all the metering modules reach their respective target weight values, a synchronous unloading command is triggered; the control system controls all the metering modules to simultaneously pour the tea leaves into the vertical mixing module based on the synchronous unloading command; the various types of tea leaves falling are guided by the mixing module to converge and diffuse along the falling path to complete the initial mixing;

[0010] Step S4: The tea leaves after the initial mixing are output from the discharge end of the mixing module to the discharge device. The discharge device rotates around its horizontal axis, so that the tea leaves after the initial mixing are conveyed and tumbled in the horizontal direction to complete the secondary mixing and finally output.

[0011] Furthermore, in step S2, the feeding device is equipped with a corresponding number of conveyor lines based on the type and quantity of tea leaves. Each conveyor line is equipped with a corresponding conveying speed based on the proportion of various types of tea leaves, so that multiple metering modules can simultaneously reach their corresponding target weight values.

[0012] Furthermore, in step S3, after the synchronous unloading command is triggered, the metering unit descends to a set height. Then, the control system controls all the metering modules to simultaneously pour the tea leaves into the vertical mixing module based on the synchronous unloading command.

[0013] Furthermore, in step S3, the various types of tea leaves falling are guided by the mixing module to converge and diffuse along the falling path. Specifically, this includes: the mixing module's mixing tank is provided with a rotating drive unit spaced apart along its height direction and at least two funnel-shaped trays spaced apart along the length direction of the rotating drive unit, with adjacent funnel-shaped trays symmetrically arranged; the rotating drive unit drives the funnel-shaped trays to rotate to disperse the falling tea leaves along the rotation direction, thus mixing the various types of tea leaves; adjacent funnel-shaped trays are arranged in opposite rotation directions to further disperse and mix the mixed tea leaves.

[0014] Furthermore, in step S4, the discharge device is provided with a spiral groove along the conveying path, and the tea leaves are conveyed horizontally by the rotation of the discharge device and the spiral groove.

[0015] A tea uniform mixing and feeding device, employing any of the tea uniform mixing and feeding methods described above, includes a feeding device for conveying multiple types of tea, a mixing device disposed at the discharge end of the feeding device, and a discharging device disposed at the discharge end of the mixing device. The mixing device includes a mixing barrel, multiple mixing hoppers disposed at the upper end of the mixing barrel, and a metering device disposed on the mixing hoppers. The discharge ends of the multiple mixing hoppers are arranged in a ring at intervals above the mixing barrel. The feeding device is provided in two sets, each including multiple conveyor lines and transfer lines, with a set of transfer lines and mixing hoppers corresponding to the discharge end of each conveyor line. Each metering device is communicatively connected to a control system to obtain a set weight of the corresponding tea. The discharging device includes a horizontally arranged discharging barrel and a discharging rotation unit, the discharging rotation unit driving the discharging barrel to rotate, and a spiral groove provided along its central axis on the inner sidewall of the discharging barrel.

[0016] Furthermore, the mixing device also includes a support frame surrounding the mixing hopper, a base fixed to the support frame, and a lifting cylinder fixed to the base. Each mixing hopper has a corresponding base and lifting cylinder below it. The base is fixed to the support frame, the lifting cylinder is hinged to the base, and the output end of the lifting cylinder is hinged to the metering device. The mixing hopper is fixed to the upper surface of the corresponding metering device. The lifting cylinder drives the discharge end of the mixing hopper to swing up and down. This allows the control system to uniformly control all the lifting cylinders to pull down the corresponding mixing hoppers after discharging, pouring the tea leaves into the mixing hopper, resulting in higher automation efficiency and improved mixing uniformity.

[0017] Furthermore, the mixing device also includes a mounting strip. The metering device is mounted on the mounting strip, and the output end of the lifting cylinder is hinged to one end of the mounting strip near the discharge end of the mixing hopper. The other end of the mounting strip is suspended on the support frame, which can effectively prevent material leakage from the mixing hopper during the feeding process and improve accuracy.

[0018] Furthermore, the multiple transfer lines corresponding to the same group of feeding devices are arranged in parallel, resulting in a compact and more aesthetically pleasing structure. The lengths of the multiple transfer lines increase progressively along a direction away from the central axis of the feeding device. The length of the transfer lines can be adjusted according to the position of different mixing hoppers, resulting in a simpler structure, lower cost, and easier installation and debugging.

[0019] Furthermore, the two sets of feeding devices are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the mixing tank, which is convenient to install, simple in structure, and lower in cost.

[0020] In summary, the beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows:

[0021] 1. By pre-setting the proportions through the control system and sending the corresponding target weight values ​​to each metering module, the weight of each type of tea is digitally and traceably set. Real-time weight monitoring stops supplying once the target weight value is reached, forming a closed-loop control system. This avoids the cumulative errors caused by traditional continuous conveying and ensures that the proportions of each component within the mixed batch strictly meet the formula requirements. The entire method adopts a batch operation logic of "metering target achievement → synchronous unloading → vertical initial mixing → horizontal tumbling remixing," with each batch undergoing a complete mixing cycle, unaffected by the continuous flow of materials from previous batches. This guarantees a high degree of repeatability and stability in the mixing uniformity of each batch.

[0022] 2. A synchronous unloading command is triggered once all metering modules meet their standards, rather than the material being dropped sequentially. This synchronous action allows different types of tea to enter the longitudinal mixing module simultaneously from multiple outlets arranged in a ring, resulting in more uniform mixing. Guided by the longitudinal mixing module, the synchronously falling tea leaves naturally converge and diffuse along their descent path. This method utilizes the interpenetration and collision during gravity flow, achieving initial uniform mixing without additional mechanical stirring. It features a simple structure, low energy consumption, and reduces mechanical damage to the tea leaves.

[0023] 3. The discharge device rotates around the horizontal axis, causing the initial mixed tea leaves to tumble while being conveyed horizontally. This combines the conveying and mixing processes into one. The tumbling promotes further exchange and dispersion of tea leaves in different areas, effectively compensating for any minor local differences that may exist during the initial mixing. The final output is a highly mixed product, improving the quality of the mixture. Attached Figure Description

[0024] Figure 1 This is a schematic flowchart of an embodiment of the tea uniform mixing and feeding method of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the tea uniform mixing and feeding device of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of another embodiment of the tea uniform mixing and feeding device of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an embodiment of the mixing device of the present invention.

[0028] Figure 5 This is a partial installation structure diagram of an embodiment of the mixing hopper and lifting cylinder of the present invention.

[0029] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of a structure of an embodiment of the material transfer line of the present invention.

[0030] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an embodiment of the discharge device of the present invention.

[0031] Explanation of the reference numerals in the figure:

[0032] 1. Tea uniform mixing and feeding equipment; 2. Feeding device; 21. Conveyor line; 22. Transfer line; 221. Transfer frame; 222. Transfer conveyor belt; 223. Connecting rod; 3. Mixing device; 31. Mixing barrel; 32. Mixing hopper; 33. Weighing device; 34. Support frame; 35. Base; 36. Lifting cylinder; 37. Mounting strip; 4. Discharge device; 41. Discharge frame; 42. Discharge rotating unit; 43. Discharge barrel; 5. Frame. Detailed Implementation

[0033] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0034] Those skilled in the art should understand that, in the disclosure of this invention, the terms "longitudinal," "lateral," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, the above terms should not be construed as limiting this invention.

[0035] In the description of this invention, the use of terms such as "a number" means one or more, with "more than" meaning two or more. Terms like "greater than," "less than," and "exceeding" are understood to exclude the stated number, while terms like "above," "below," and "within" are understood to include the stated number. The use of terms like "first," "second," and "third" is merely for distinguishing technical features and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance, the number of indicated technical features, or the sequential relationship between indicated technical features.

[0036] The following is in conjunction with the appendix Figure 1-7 The embodiments of the present invention will be described in further detail below.

[0037] A method for uniformly mixing and feeding tea leaves, comprising:

[0038] Step S1: Based on preset proportions of various teas, the control system determines the target weight values ​​for each type of tea required for a single blending; the control system then sets the target weight values ​​for each type of tea into multiple metering modules corresponding to different tea varieties.

[0039] Step S2: The feeding device 2 delivers the corresponding type of tea based on the target weight value of each type of tea and monitors the weight in real time. When any metering module reaches its corresponding target weight value, the tea supply to the metering module is stopped.

[0040] Step S3: When all metering modules reach their respective target weight values, a synchronous unloading command is triggered; the control system controls all metering modules to simultaneously pour the tea leaves into the vertical mixing module based on the synchronous unloading command; the various types of tea leaves falling are guided by the mixing module to converge and diffuse along the falling path to complete the initial mixing.

[0041] Step S4: The tea leaves after the initial mixing are output from the discharge end of the mixing module to the discharge device 4. The discharge device 4 rotates around its horizontal axis, so that the tea leaves after the initial mixing are conveyed and tumbled in the horizontal direction to complete the secondary mixing and finally output.

[0042] This tea uniform mixing and feeding method uses a control system to send the target weight value corresponding to the preset ratio to each metering module, realizing the digitalization of the weight of each type of tea. The metering module can monitor the weight of its own tea supply in real time and stop supplying when the target weight value is reached, forming a closed-loop control. This avoids the cumulative error caused by traditional continuous conveying and ensures that the proportion of each component in the mixed batch strictly meets the formula requirements. After all metering modules have reached the target, a synchronous unloading command is triggered. All metering modules pour the tea on them into the mixing module. The synchronously falling tea leaves, guided by the longitudinal mixing module, naturally converge and diffuse along the falling path. This method utilizes the mutual interpenetration and collision during the gravity flow process to complete the initial uniform mixing without additional mechanical stirring. It has a simple structure and low energy consumption, while reducing mechanical damage to the tea leaves. The discharge device 4 rotates around the horizontal axis, causing the initially mixed tea leaves to tumble while being conveyed horizontally. This combines the conveying and mixing processes into one. The tumbling promotes further exchange and dispersion of tea leaves in different areas, effectively compensating for possible minor local differences in the initial mixing, and ultimately outputting a highly mixed finished product, improving the quality of the mixture.

[0043] The working method of this application will be described in detail below.

[0044] In step S1, the control system determines the target weight value of each type of tea required for a single mixing based on the preset proportions of various teas; the control system then sets the target weight value of each type of tea in multiple metering modules corresponding to different types of tea.

[0045] Specifically, users input the proportions of various teas into the control system. The control system then calculates the target total quantity required for each type of tea in a single blend based on the proportions and the total quantity of each blend. Each type of tea corresponds to a metering module, which accurately weighs the total quantity of each type of tea, thereby improving the accuracy of the blending.

[0046] In step S2, the feeding device 2 delivers the corresponding type of tea based on the target weight value of each type of tea and monitors the weight in real time. When any metering module reaches its corresponding target weight value, the feeding of tea to the metering module is stopped.

[0047] Specifically, the feeding device 2 includes multiple conveyor lines 21, each responsible for conveying one type of tea. The feeding device 2 has a corresponding number of conveyor lines 21 based on the type and quantity of tea. To ensure that all tea is fed synchronously, each conveyor line 21 is set with a corresponding conveying speed based on the proportions of different tea types, so that multiple metering modules can simultaneously reach their corresponding target weight values. This improves work efficiency and facilitates unified control.

[0048] In step S3, when all metering modules reach their respective target weight values, a synchronous unloading command is triggered. Based on the synchronous unloading command, the control system controls all metering modules to simultaneously pour the tea leaves into the vertical mixing module. The various types of tea leaves falling are guided by the mixing module to converge and diffuse along the falling path to complete the initial mixing.

[0049] Specifically, since each tea leaf is fed by a separate conveyor line 21, it's possible that some tea leaves in the metering module have been fed while others are still being fed. In such cases, the feed cannot be released until all tea leaves have been fed. Alternatively, some conveyor lines 21 may malfunction, or the tea leaf supply at the feed end of conveyor line 21 may be insufficient, causing the corresponding metering module to fail to reach the target weight value. To address this, the control system can start from the metering module that first completes feeding or from the estimated feeding time. If any metering module fails to reach the target weight value after the set time, the control system will issue an alarm to allow operators to investigate.

[0050] When all metering modules reach the target weight value, conveyor line 21 stops feeding, and the control system triggers a synchronous unloading command. Based on the synchronous unloading command, the control system controls all metering modules to simultaneously pour the tea leaves into the longitudinal mixing module.

[0051] During material feeding via conveyor line 21, the metering module is positioned near the discharge end of conveyor line 21. Upon triggering the synchronous unloading command, the metering module descends a predetermined distance under the action of the lifting cylinder 36, bringing its discharge end closer to the inlet end of the mixing module. This reduces the drop distance and prevents breakage due to excessive drop in the tea leaves. Then, based on the synchronous unloading command, the control system controls all metering modules to simultaneously pour the tea leaves into the longitudinal mixing module.

[0052] When tea leaves enter the mixing module, the various types of tea leaves are guided by the mixing module to converge and diffuse along their falling path. The mixing module's mixing tank 31 is equipped with a rotary drive unit spaced apart along its height and at least two funnel-shaped trays spaced apart along the length of the rotary drive unit, with adjacent funnel-shaped trays arranged symmetrically. The rotary drive unit drives the funnel-shaped trays to rotate, dispersing the falling tea leaves along the direction of rotation, thus mixing the various types of tea leaves. Adjacent funnel-shaped trays rotate in opposite directions to further disperse and mix the mixed tea leaves.

[0053] In step S4, the tea leaves after the initial mixing are output from the discharge end of the mixing module to the discharge device 4. The discharge device 4 rotates around its horizontal axis, so that the tea leaves after the initial mixing are conveyed and tumbled in the horizontal direction to complete the secondary mixing and finally output.

[0054] Specifically, tea leaves are conveyed from the discharge end of the mixing tank 31 to the discharge device 4. The discharge device 4 has a spiral groove along its conveying path. The rotation of the discharge device 4 and the spiral groove drive the tea leaves to be conveyed horizontally. The discharge device 4 includes a discharge tank 43 and a discharge rotating unit 42. The discharge tank 43 has a spiral groove along its conveying path. The discharge rotating unit 42 drives the discharge tank 43 to rotate continuously, so that the tea leaves in the discharge tank 43 can be conveyed and turned over at the same time, and the tea leaves are mixed again to improve the mixing quality.

[0055] A tea mixing and feeding device 1, which uses the above-mentioned feeding method to mix tea leaves, such as... Figure 2 , Figure 3 , Figure 4As shown, it includes a feeding device 2 for conveying various types of tea, a mixing device 3 disposed at the discharge end of the feeding device 2, and a discharge device 4 disposed at the discharge end of the mixing device 3. The mixing device 3 includes a metering module and a mixing module. The mixing module includes a mixing tank 31, a rotary drive disposed within the mixing tank 31, and at least two funnel-shaped trays. The rotary drive can drive the funnel-shaped trays to rotate, and the outer surfaces of two adjacent funnels are arranged at intervals. The rotary drive and the funnel-shaped tray structures are existing technologies, and their working principles will not be described in detail here. The metering module includes multiple mixing hoppers 32 disposed at the upper end of the mixing tank 31 and a metering device disposed on the mixing hoppers 32. The discharge ends of the multiple mixing hoppers 32 are arranged in a ring at intervals above the mixing tank 31. The feeding device 2 is provided in two sets, each including multiple conveyor lines 21 and transfer lines 22. Each conveyor line 21 has a corresponding transfer line 22 and mixing hopper 32 at its outlet end. Each meter is communicatively connected to the control system to obtain its corresponding set weight of tea leaves. The discharging device 4 includes a horizontally arranged discharging barrel 43 and a discharging rotation unit 42. The discharging rotation unit 42 drives the discharging barrel 43 to rotate. The inner wall of the discharging barrel 43 has a spiral groove along its central axis. In the figure, only one set of feeding devices 2 is shown; the other set of feeding devices 2 has the same structure.

[0056] Among them, multiple conveyor lines 21 and transfer lines 22 can simultaneously transport multiple types of tea to the corresponding mixing hoppers 32. The discharge ends of multiple mixing hoppers 32 are arranged in a ring at intervals on the mixing barrel 31, so that different types of tea fall into the mixing barrel 31 from multiple directions at the same time, avoiding layering and local accumulation caused by stacking in one direction, ensuring that the tea is evenly mixed, improving the accuracy of blending ratio, and making the finished product taste better.

[0057] Specifically, in order to improve work efficiency, the conveying speed of the corresponding conveyor line 21 or transfer line 22 can be adjusted in the control system according to the proportion, so that all the tea leaves are sent to the mixing hopper 32 at the same time, and multiple mixing hoppers 32 simultaneously pour the tea leaves into the mixing barrel 31, thereby improving the efficiency of tea mixing.

[0058] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 3 , Figure 4 , Figure 5The mixing device 3 also includes a support frame 34 surrounding the mixing hopper 31, a base 35 fixed to the support frame 34, and a lifting cylinder 36 fixed to the base 35. Each mixing hopper 32 has a corresponding base 35 and lifting cylinder 36 below it. The base 35 is fixed to the support frame 34, and the lifting cylinder 36 is hinged to the base 35. The output end of the lifting cylinder 36 is hinged to a metering device, and the mixing hopper 32 is fixed to the upper surface of the corresponding metering device. The lifting cylinder 36 drives the discharge end of the mixing hopper 32 to swing up and down. This allows the control system to uniformly control all the lifting cylinders 36 to pull down the corresponding mixing hopper 32 after feeding, thus pouring the tea leaves into the mixing hopper 31, resulting in higher automation efficiency and improved mixing uniformity.

[0059] The lifting cylinder 36 extends its output shaft to horizontally or upwardly position the discharge end of the mixing hopper 32, preventing tea leaves from falling and affecting the mixing ratio during feeding. A mounting strip 37 is provided on the lower surface of the meter. The output end of the lifting cylinder 36 is hinged to one end of the mounting strip 37 near the discharge end of the mixing hopper 32, while the other end of the mounting strip 37 is suspended on the support frame 34. This effectively prevents material leakage from the mixing hopper 32 during feeding, improving accuracy. The extension and retraction of the lifting cylinder 36 causes the mixing hopper 32 to swing up and down around the upper surface of the support frame 34, achieving the material receiving and feeding operation.

[0060] Specifically, the tea leaves on the transfer line 22 fall into the mixing hopper 32. Because the inlet end of the mixing hopper 32 is suspended, the force of the tea leaves causes the outlet end of the mixing hopper 32 to tilt upwards, preventing the tea leaves from splashing out and improving weighing accuracy. When feeding is needed, the output shaft of the lifting cylinder 36 retracts, causing the outlet end of the mixing hopper 32 to reverse. The mixing hopper 32 descends a certain distance so that the bottom of its inlet end abuts against the upper surface of the support frame 34. Then, it rotates around the upper surface of the support frame 34 towards one side of the mixing tank 31, pouring the tea leaves into the mixing tank 31. This shortens the falling distance of the tea leaves during feeding and reduces the feeding distance from the mixing hopper 32 to the mixing tank 31, thereby reducing tea leaf loss, improving the mixing quality, and reducing the content of broken tea leaves.

[0061] For preferred options, please refer to [the provided text]. Figure 3 , Figure 6The material transfer line 22 includes a material transfer drive unit, a material transfer frame 221, and a material transfer conveyor belt 222. The material transfer drive unit is fixed on the material transfer frame 221 and is used to drive the material transfer conveyor belt 222. The discharge end of the material transfer conveyor belt 222 is located above the corresponding mixing hopper 32. It has a compact structure, is easy to adapt to mixing hoppers 32 in different positions, improves installation and commissioning efficiency, and has stronger compatibility. The material transfer drive unit is not shown in the figure. It can use a motor-driven drive gear combined with a driven gear and chain belt to drive the material transfer conveyor belt 222; this is existing technology and will not be described further here.

[0062] In this design, multiple transfer conveyor belts 222 corresponding to the same feeding device 2 are arranged in parallel, resulting in a compact and more aesthetically pleasing structure. The lengths of the multiple transfer conveyor belts 222 increase progressively along the direction away from the central axis of the feeding device 2. The length of the conveyor belts is adjusted according to the position of different mixing hoppers 32, simplifying the structure, reducing costs, and making installation and commissioning easier. Specifically, two transfer conveyor belts 222 symmetrically arranged along the central axis of the feeding device 2 are of equal length, further reducing processing and assembly costs.

[0063] For details, please refer to section 2. Figure 6 The tea uniform mixing and feeding equipment 1 also includes a frame 5, and the discharge end of the conveyor line 21 is fixed on the frame 5. The transfer rack 221 is provided with multiple connecting rods 223. One end of the multiple connecting rods 223 is fixed on the frame 5, and the other end of the connecting rods 223 is bent to be fixedly connected to the lower surface of the transfer rack 221, which is convenient to assemble and has higher stability.

[0064] Preferably, eight mixing hoppers 32 are evenly distributed, and each set of feeding devices 2 is equipped with four conveyor lines 21 and four transfer lines 22, which facilitates the mixing of more types of tea, resulting in a more compact structure and better aesthetics. Of course, the number of mixing hoppers 32 is not limited here, and the appropriate number can be set according to the size of the mixing hoppers 32. In use, only some of the mixing hoppers 32 can be used for mixing operations, which has greater compatibility and is suitable for formulas with a large number of tea varieties.

[0065] Preferably, the two sets of feeding devices 2 are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the mixing tank 31, which is convenient to install, simple in structure, and lower in cost. The two sets of feeding devices 2 simultaneously convey multiple types of tea, with a compact layout, which facilitates the storage and stacking of tea at the feeding end.

[0066] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 3 , Figure 7The discharging device 4 also includes a discharging frame 41, a discharging rotating unit 42 mounted on the discharging frame 41, and a discharging barrel 43. The central axis of the discharging barrel 43 is horizontally positioned, and the discharging barrel 43 is mounted on the discharging rotating unit 42. The discharging rotating unit 42 drives the discharging barrel 43 to rotate, causing the tea leaves inside to tumble and mix, performing multi-dimensional mixing operations to improve the uniformity of tea mixing. The discharging rotating unit 42 is existing technology and will not be described in detail here.

[0067] During processing, the lower end of the mixing tank 31 conveys the mixed tea leaves to the discharge tank 43, which rotates continuously under the drive of the discharge rotating unit 42. A spiral groove is provided along the length of the discharge tank 43. Under the action of the spiral groove, the tea leaves are conveyed towards the discharge end of the discharge tank 43. Simultaneously, under the tumbling action of the discharge tank 43, the tea leaves inside are mixed again, making the mixture of various teas more uniform.

[0068] The control system presets the proportions of various teas and calculates the weight required for a single mixing of each type of tea. Each mixing hopper 32 corresponds to one type of tea. A measuring device is installed below each mixing hopper 32. The control system feeds the required weight to the measuring device, and stops feeding when the device reaches the corresponding weight. When all measuring devices reach their preset values, all mixing hoppers 32 simultaneously pour the tea into the mixing drum 31. The mixing drum 31 contains a funnel-shaped mixing plate, which mixes the various teas evenly during the descent. The discharge end of the mixing drum 31 has a discharge drum 43, which is placed horizontally and has a spiral groove inside. Driven by the discharge rotation unit 42, the discharge drum 43 rotates while feeding, further mixing the tea. Both vertical and horizontal directions contribute to the mixing of the tea, resulting in a more uniform mixture.

[0069] The embodiments described in this specific implementation are preferred embodiments of this application and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of this application. Identical components are represented by the same reference numerals. Therefore, all equivalent changes made to the structure, shape, and principle of this application should be covered within the scope of protection of this application.

Claims

1. A method for uniformly mixing and feeding tea leaves, characterized in that, include: Step S1: The control system determines the target weight value of each type of tea required for a single mixing based on the preset proportions of various teas. The target weight value of each type of tea is set in multiple metering modules corresponding to different types of tea through the control system. Step S2: The feeding device (2) delivers the corresponding type of tea based on the target weight value of each type of tea and monitors the weight in real time. When any of the metering modules reaches its corresponding target weight value, the supply of tea to the metering module is stopped. Step S3: When all the metering modules reach their respective target weight values, a synchronous unloading command is triggered; the control system controls all the metering modules to simultaneously pour the tea leaves into the vertical mixing module based on the synchronous unloading command; the various types of tea leaves falling are guided by the mixing module to converge and diffuse along the falling path to complete the initial mixing; Step S4: The tea leaves after the initial mixing are output from the discharge end of the mixing module to the discharge device (4). The discharge device (4) rotates around its horizontal axis, so that the tea leaves after the initial mixing are conveyed and tumbled in the horizontal direction to complete the secondary mixing and finally output.

2. The method for uniformly mixing and feeding tea leaves according to claim 1, characterized in that, In step S2, the feeding device (2) is equipped with a corresponding number of conveyor lines (21) based on the type and quantity of tea leaves. Each conveyor line (21) is equipped with a corresponding conveying speed based on the proportion of various types of tea leaves, so that multiple metering modules can reach their corresponding target weight values ​​simultaneously.

3. The method for uniformly mixing and feeding tea leaves according to claim 1, characterized in that, In step S3, after the synchronous unloading command is triggered, the metering unit descends to a set height. Then, the control system controls all the metering modules to simultaneously pour the tea leaves into the vertical mixing module based on the synchronous unloading command.

4. The method for uniformly mixing and feeding tea leaves according to claim 1, characterized in that, In step S3, the various types of tea leaves falling are guided by the mixing module to converge and diffuse along the falling path. Specifically, the mixing module's mixing tank (31) is provided with a rotating drive unit at intervals along its height direction and at least two funnel-shaped trays at intervals along the length direction of the rotating drive unit, with adjacent funnel-shaped trays symmetrically arranged. The rotating drive unit drives the funnel-shaped trays to rotate so as to disperse the falling tea leaves along the rotation direction, thereby mixing the various types of tea leaves. The rotation directions of adjacent funnel-shaped trays are arranged in opposite directions so as to disperse and mix the mixed tea leaves again.

5. The method for uniformly mixing and feeding tea leaves according to claim 1, characterized in that, In step S4, the discharge device (4) is provided with a spiral groove along the conveying path. The tea leaves are conveyed horizontally by the rotation of the discharge device (4) and the spiral groove.

6. A tea uniform mixing and feeding device, comprising mixing tea leaves using any one of the tea uniform mixing and feeding methods described in claims 1-5, characterized in that, The system includes a feeding device (2) for conveying various types of tea leaves, a mixing device (3) disposed at the discharge end of the feeding device (2), and a discharge device (4) disposed at the discharge end of the mixing device (3); the mixing device (3) includes a mixing tank (31), a plurality of mixing hoppers (32) disposed at the upper end of the mixing tank (31), and a metering device disposed on the mixing hoppers (32); the discharge ends of the plurality of mixing hoppers (32) are arranged in a ring at intervals above the mixing tank (31); the feeding device (2) is provided in two sets, and the feeding device... (2) Includes multiple conveyor lines (21) and transfer lines (22). Each conveyor line (21) has a set of transfer lines (22) and mixing hoppers (32) at its discharge end. Each meter is communicatively connected to the control system to obtain the set weight of the corresponding tea. The discharge device (4) includes a horizontally arranged discharge barrel (43) and a discharge rotation unit (42). The discharge rotation unit (42) is used to drive the discharge barrel (43) to rotate. The inner sidewall of the discharge barrel (43) is provided with a spiral groove along its central axis.

7. The tea uniform mixing and feeding equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, The mixing device (3) further includes a support frame (34) covering the periphery of the mixing hopper (31), a base (35) fixed on the support frame (34), and a lifting cylinder (36) fixed on the base (35); each mixing hopper (32) is provided with a set of the base (35) and the lifting cylinder (36) below it; the base (35) is fixed on the support frame (34), the lifting cylinder (36) is hinged to the base (35), the output end of the lifting cylinder (36) is hinged to the meter, and the mixing hopper (32) is fixed to the upper surface of the corresponding meter; the lifting cylinder (36) is used to drive the discharge end of the mixing hopper (32) to swing up and down.

8. The tea uniform mixing and feeding equipment according to claim 7, characterized in that, The mixing device (3) also includes a mounting strip (37); the meter is mounted on the mounting strip (37), the output end of the lifting cylinder (36) is hinged to one end of the mounting strip (37) near the discharge end of the mixing hopper (32), and the other end of the mounting strip (37) is suspended on the support frame (34).

9. The tea uniform mixing and feeding equipment according to claim 6, characterized in that, Multiple transfer lines (22) corresponding to the same group of feeding devices (2) are arranged in parallel, and the length of the multiple transfer lines (22) increases in a direction away from the central axis of the feeding device (2).

10. The tea uniform mixing and feeding equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, The two sets of feeding devices (2) are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the mixing tank (31).

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